The National tribune., 1887-06-02
FROMTHE OTHER SIDE.
Confederate Cavalry officer Tells Of Hoods Rear
Guard after Nashville.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As history
should be true in all its details, 1 ask permis-
sion. through your columns, 10 correct one or
two mistakes made by LieEt. r. w. Surby, in
his article published in THE NATIONAL TRIB-
USE of Sept. 9, 1856. In his account of the
fighting in the rear of Hoods army on the 18th
OF December lS64, he says:
About D. M the rebels were compelled to make
stand to save their trains. . . This stand
was made on Little Harpeth Creek, few miles
south of Franklin: The most desperate
fighting was over Ross (rebell Brigade coIOrs.
The eoloTs were captured and brought OF
in triumph.
The fact is, Rnss's Brigade, after leading the
advance OF Hoods army as far as Franklin, and
participating in the engagement there, was
sent with Gen. Forrest to MurfreesbOEo and re-
mained in that vicinity until Gen. Hood was
forced from his position in front of Nashville,
and did not rejOin the main army until the
rear was crossing Duck River at Columbia on
the evening Of the 18th. The brigade struck
Duck River some distance above Columbia, but
being unable to cross, proceeded on the north
side and crossed on the pontoon bridge on which
the main army was then nearly done crossing.
Hence, Ross Brigade was not on Little Har-
peth on the retreat; did not lose it's brigade
colOrs there, and in truth and in fact never
lost stand Of brigade colors anywhere during
the war.
After crossing Duck River, and during the
respite afforded by the temporary detention of
the Federal advance in crossing RutherfOrd's
Creek and Duck River, our rear-guard was re-
organized for the balance of the retreat, under
the command Of Gen. Forrest and was CON-
posed OF eight brigades of infantry under Gen.
T. G. Walthall, and the available cavalry. The
eight Infantry brigades reported only 1.601
effective men. From Columbia to cambridge,
on the Tennessee River, ROss's Brigade partic-
ipated in all the fighting that occurred in the
rear Of Hoods army. Jackson's Division COM
posed of Ross Texas Brigade and Armstrong;
Mississippi Brigade, were the last troops TO
leave Pulaski, aud attempted to burn the bridge
over Richlaud Creek, saw it extinguished by
the Federal cavalry, and next day were in the
affair on Anthony's Hill, nine miles below Pu-
iaski, where the Federal advance was led into
an ambush. The COnfederates had a strong
natural position, but not fortified There the
Federal advance was repulsed with the loss Of
few prisoners and horses and one piece of
artillery.
The Federal forces pressing our rear on this
memorable retreat were gallant, brave and
active soldiers; but, while they pressed US
closely, the Confederate rear-guard had to fight
hard to save shattered, dispirited, barefOoted
army from destruction. How well we did our
part will leave the boys in blue who followed
US to say. Gen. Thomas, in his official report
dated Jan. 20, 1866, says this of Hoods rear
guard:
he had formed a powerful rear ar-guard, made up
OF detachments from all his organized forces, num-
berlng about 1000 infantry. under Gen. Walthall,
and bis available cavalry, under Forrest With
the exeepton Of this rear-guard, his army had be-
come q disheartcned and disorganized rabble Of
halfarmed and barefooted men, who sought every
opportunity to fall out by the wayside and desert
their cause to put an end to their sufferings. The
rear-guard, however, was undaunted and firm, and
did its work bravely TO the last.
Gan Tbaa,a.
mated Sur infantry strength. The correct
number of effeetives is given above-S. b. BAR
RON. Lieutenant, Sd Tex. Cav, Ross's Brigade,
Rusk, Tex.